Scripture Memory Challenge

 

 

This Sunday ended twelve weeks of scripture memorization for many young people in our church. Every year the church offers all of our elementary through high school students the opportunity to earn scholarship money for summer camp or youth retreats by memorizing scripture. As a hearer I am allowed to give only three prompts for the 8 – 10 verses they are required to memorize each week for twelve weeks. If they don’t get the wording and the references exactly right they have to start from the beginning.

I have been “hearer” for the same two children for four or five years. It is amazing to listen and hear how these two can recite what they have learned and how much it inspires me to think I can also memorize scripture.

In John 14:26 Jesus said to His disciples, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” This is a fabulous promise of what the Holy Spirit will do for us. But, we do not have the advantage that the disciples of Jesus day had as they sat and listened to Him teach. Now, we rely on what the Lord says to us through His Word, the Bible. We need to study and even memorize it for the Holy Spirit to have something to remind us of.

Many years ago I heard a young man talk about how, as a child, his parents had forced him to go to AWANA clubs that required him to memorize a verse a week. If he didn’t do the memorization his parents would take away privileges. He hated every minute of it according to his testimony but reluctantly complied with the memorization.

When this young man was in his early twenties he was in a bad car accident. He was trapped in the car and as he waited for help he said all the scripture he had learned as a boy came flooding back to his mind. He remembered that God is a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1) and that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

At home with my family this afternoon we were discussing the scripture memory program and how we did not have the advantage the children of our church have. Though we have all studied our Bibles we have not memorized as much as we “just know” what they say. In other words we can quote a lot of verses but may not be able to tell you exactly where they are (we are very grateful for our concordances when we need them!).

I am confidant that the Holy Spirit will bring to mind what Jesus has taught me through His word when I need it. I am also convicted that I may need to memorize some “addresses” of some verses that I like to use all the time (and I guess the truth is that I do know where a lot of them are). When we want to teach or show some Truth to others it is helpful to be able to find it easily.

Our Bibles can be God’s very present help in times of trouble. This help can be right in the palms of our hands. It is often within easy reach when we need it. Sometimes, though, we don’t have it within reach when we need it, like this young man in the car accident.

How well do you know the Word of God? Have you memorized at least some it so the Holy Spirit can bring it to mind when you need it? 8 verses a week for 12 weeks is 96 verses. We could set our sights lower – just two verses a week for a year and out- do these children or just do one a week and get over half way there.

So, that’s my challenge – one verse a week for a year. How hard can it be if all these kids can do it? I’ll let you know but would love to know you would join me!

This week’s verse? Let’s start with an easy one: Psalm 119:105, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.